The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was established as an independent taxing district by Special Act of the Florida State Legislature in 1965. The Act was amended in 1967 and again in 1969 and 1992, expanding the DDA's powers and boundaries. The DDA was formed to provide for the rehabilitation, redevelopment, and revitalization of slum and blighted areas in the Downtown.

The DDA's Governing Board consists of seven members, appointed by the City Commission, to serve four year staggered terms. Board members must own property within the Authority's 370 acre jurisdiction or be involved with a corporation owning property or paying property taxes in the jurisdiction, and thus have a vested interest in the activities of the DDA.

The DDA has played a variety of constructive roles since its creation. It has been, and continues to be, a redevelopment agency, a marketing organization, and a coordinator and facilitator among various private and governmental entities involved in and with the Downtown. The vitality and dynamism of the Downtown with shining office towers and cultural, educational and entertainment amenities are tangible testimony to the effectiveness of the DDA and the vision of its governing Boards throughout the past decades. One need only to look at the photographs of Downtown Fort Lauderdale circa 1965 to see how successful the Authority has been in making the Downtown the urban centerpiece of Broward County. Without the DDA advocacy and pro-active initiatives, Downtown Fort Lauderdale would be a far different and eminently less successful place. Today, with it's office skyscrapers, numerous new residential projects and the Arts and Entertainment District Downtown Fort Lauderdale has emerged as the South's Premiere location to Live, Work and Play.

The Mission Statement of the DDA can be summarized as follows:

The Downtown Development Authority will seek to provide a critical link between the economic development and physical development objectives of Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Specifically, the DDA will be an advocate for the City of Fort Lauderdale as the "Downtown of Broward County" that has:

	A mixed-use environment with primary emphasis on regional corporate headquarters.
	Entertainment, cultural and historic amenities of regional and state-wide significance.
	The office and governmental center of Broward County.